I would like to say how stoked I am to have stumbled across TC a few months ago and became a member immediately. The info available is overwhelming, but in a good way! I am not new to tiki, just new to TC. Thank's for letting me in!

Started carving about ten years ago as a student of a Hungarian master carver named Bela Ferencz. I was bitten by the carving bug and carved with Bela for about 3 years. As most can probably relate, job, family,and school took most of my time and sapped all the carving time from me. I would think about it everyday...I missed the cuts and splinters! I decided to get back into carving this past January and jumped in full blast! This time, I would use what knowledge I have about oceanic art/tiki and let the carving begin.

My first tiki. Took a long time using all small chisels. I even stripped the palm with a chisel...what a rookie!

My second experiment. The log was in really bad shape when I started and progressively got worst.

My Pele relief panel.

Starting my third tiki.I was inspired by Tiki Jungle. Thanks bro!

Finished product ready for my back yard.

The fourth project...My first dealing with a open mouth...help!

The fifth piece...kind of evolved while carving.

Finished this Maori/abstract?? piece today. More tung oil tomorrow.

I have some ideas in my head for the next couple of pieces. Need to secure the lumber. Will post pics when getting started.

Thanks to all the tiki carvers at TC for the inspiration to get back into the obsession we all have!
Beachnik

After posting I found out how small the pictures were. Either I need to break out the magnifying glass or figure out how to make them bigger. The latter sounds better. Any advice?? I will repost pics at a viewable size shortly. What a way to start out at TC....Help!

I taught him everything he knows!!.....well , not really, but I hope my tiki ravings during my haircuts (yes, he carves people too) were a little spark to get him motivated!. You should see his "real" carvings, way scary amounts of talent and the nicest guy around. Welcome.TWT
_________________ keep the rubber side down ,the gas on and the drinks coming!

Hey everybody,thanks for checking out my pieces. I'm stoked that you guys enjoyed the carvings. Sharing the same passion for tiki is what it's all about and I look forward to letting the wood chips fly.

And yes, that is a stockade holding the large tiki. I removed the top locking portion of the stock for my own protection. It is mighty uncomfortable I do say!

right...stockade, not gallows...a gallow is what you hang people on. That'd be kinda kreepy if you had one of those in your back yard. THanks for the correction! I gotta keep my terminology right. cool tikis and good luck with your palm search, I'm sure you'll find some. You can also call local tree trimmers too, if you don't find any on the side of the street.
_________________OMG! I'm on Instagram!

Hey Marcus, thanks for the welcome mat! I'm checking out a few books on the Maori to get some mask ideas. Your part of the planet is the place to be...Australia and New Zealand yeaaaa!
Polynesiac, not a bad idea to have a gallows in my yard to go with the stockade. You can never have to many creepy things laying around the yard! By the way, were you at Tiki Oasis showing your wares in the tent? If that was you, you had a lot of very cool tikis on display. I was there on Sunday and had a blast.

Started this maori over the weekend with some old hardwood I found in my woodpile. Hard as concrete!

Need to finish the tats and texture tomorrow. I just picked up a new V-tool and used it on this one. Like cutting coco butter in the tropical sun! Anybody have ideas on what to put on as a finish to come as close as I can with the original? Doesn't help that the wood is so dark! Let me know.

This is a basswood panel of a war canoe I am starting. Can you tell one of the warriors jumped over board? He should be in the second to last spot. I totally ruined him...well, that is what glue is for! Will show the finished pix as they happen.